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Overview

A four-year starter, Adams was a top-10 cornerback/receiver recruit out of high school, choosing hometown Arkansas over Florida, USC and Oklahoma. He saw playing time as a true freshman in 2008 (7 starts), recording 31 catches for 377 yards (12.2) and 1 TD, adding a passing score. Adams again started 7 contests in 2009 as a sophomore, finishing with 29 receptions for 568 yards (19.6) and a career-best 7 touchdowns, earning Second Team All-SEC honors.

He was the team's slot receiver in 2010 as a junior, recording 50 catches for 813 yards (16.3) and 6 touchdowns, adding a PR for a score. Adams had his most productive season in 2011 as a senior, finishing with 54 catches for 652 yards (12.1) and 3 touchdowns with 5 non-receiving scores (4 PR, 1 rush), earning SEC Special Teams Player of the Year honors.

Adams originally verbally committed to USC out of high school, but switched to Arkansas after offensive-minded Bobby Petrino was hired as the head coach. His inconsistent hands are his biggest weakness and needs to work on his reliability securing the catch.

Adams is an exciting playmaker with natural explosion, foot speed and electric burst, wanting to score on every touch, but too often backtracks and loses yards in search of the big play -- an unpolished pass catcher who needs to work on the little things, but offers immediate value as an impact return man, which pushes his draft value into the top-100 range.

Analysis

Strengths: Fluid athlete with explosive burst and speed to stretch the field and breeze past defenders. Has a quick first step and gets to top-speed in a hurry. Has rare suddenness with lightning footwork to create in tight areas with elusive shiftiness and change of direction skills -- tough to contain in space with make-you-miss ability. Has top-shelf balance and with lower body strength to power through arm tackles. Has very good vision to set up his moves with impressive run-after-the-catch ability -- makes something out of nothing. Has a flexible frame with good body control. Plays fast and has an eye for the big play. An impact return man with a 15.8 career average and 5 career punt returns for scores -- named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2011 with 4 returns for touchdowns. Confident player and disciplined athlete, eating the right things and taking care of his body. Dangerous weapon with some offensive versatility -- experience lining up in the backfield and taking hand-offs (2 rush touchdowns, 1 pass score in his career).

Weaknesses: Undersized with average height and a very lean frame -- marginal bulk and poor strength on his body. Smaller target with streaky concentration and ballskills -- only average hands and battles drops. Inconsistent on passes away from his frame and has too many body catches. Searches too much for the home run and doesn't simply take what's there -- routinely dances and goes side-to-side and backwards, resulting in negative yardage. Needs to refine his routes and become a better all-around receiver -- lacks polish. Has some ball security concerns and needs to hold onto the ball through contact. Talks too much on the field and has had to be restrained by teammates in the past. H as some durability concerns because of his size and suffered a mild stroke in 2009, something that needs to be monitored.

NFL Comparison: Jerel Jernigan, New York Giants

-- Dane Brugler

Career Notes

For his career, Adams ranks second on Arkansas' all-time list with 164 career receptions. He's fourth in school history with 2,410 receiving yards and seven 100-yard receiving games and tied for fourth with 17 receiving touchdowns. His five punt returns for touchdowns are tied for the third-best career total in SEC history.

2011 Season

Adams was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2011 while also earning multiple All-America honors for the Razorbacks. He was selected a first team All-America by the FWAA (return specialist) and Sporting News (punt returner) and was a second team pick by both Walter Camp (kick returner) and Associated Press (all-purpose). The Little Rock, Ark., native also landed on both first team All-SEC squads (Coaches & AP) as an all-purpose player.

Adams finished the season with 54 catches for 652 yards and three touchdowns and added 19 punt returns for 321 yards and four more scores. His punt return touchdown total was tops in the nation and tied for the SEC's single-season record. Adams led the SEC and ranked second in the country in punt return average (16.89) this season and was the only player in the country in 2011 with rushing, receiving and multiple punt return touchdowns.

2010 Season

He started four games while appearing in 12, missing only the Vanderbilt game due to an ankle injury. He led the team with a career-high 813 receiving yards and tied for the team lead with six receiving touchdowns. He also ranked second among Razorbacks with a career-high 50 receptions, tied for the ninth-highest single-season total in school history, and with his average of 96.4 all-purpose yards per game. He ranked second in the SEC and tied for 28th in the NCAA with an average of 15.2 yards per play. Adams finished the season ranked sixth in the SEC with 4.2 receptions per game and seventh in the conference with 67.8 receiving yards per game. He ranked second in the SEC and fifth in the NCAA with an average of 15.56 yards per punt return, the seventhhighest single-season average in school history. His three 100-yard receiving games tied for fifth in the SEC. He tied for seventh in the NCAA with 32 receptions against ranked opponents and was 11th in the country with 403 receiving yards against ranked foes. His 23 receptions of at least 15 yards tied for fifth in the SEC. Adams broke the Arkansas record for longest punt return for a touchdown when he returned a punt 97 yards for a score, tied for the fifth-longest punt return in SEC history, in UA’s 38-24 victory vs. Ole Miss. The score was his first career punt return for a touchdown and bettered the previous record of 95 yards set by Ken Hatfield vs. Tulsa in 1963. Adams was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week following his recordbreaking return, which was the biggest portion of his 120 yards on three punt returns, the fifth-highest single-game punt return yardage total in school history. He also made two receptions for 49 yards against the Rebels. His careerhigh nine receptions vs. No. 6 Ohio State in the Allstate Sugar Bowl are tied for the 10th-highest single-game total in school history. Against the Buckeyes, he collected 120 yards and one touchdown on those nine catches. He opened the season with a career-high 138 receiving yards and two touchdowns, including a career-long 85-yard reception, on six catches in Arkansas’ 44-3 win vs. Tennessee Tech. His other 100-yard receiving game came in the Razorbacks’ 31-24 win at Georgia, where he piled up 130 receiving yards on six catches. He caught a then-career-high-tying seven passes for 87 yards and one touchdown while also rushing once for 12 yards and returning two kickoffs for a total of 37 yards at No. 7 Auburn. He collected 158 all-purpose yards in UA’s 31-7 victory vs. ULM, courtesy of 76 yards on three receptions and five punt returns for a total of 82 yards. Adams caught three passes for 60 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown on 4thand- 3 with the Razorbacks holding a one-point lead in the fourth quarter, in Arkansas’ 31-23 win vs. No. 6 LSU. Against No. 1 Alabama, Adams made four receptions for 45 yards and carried the ball once for four yards. He also had 45 yards on four receptions and one four-yard rush in Arkansas’ 38-31 double-overtime win at No. 22 Mississippi State. He caught two passes for 19 yards and one touchdown while also returning two kickoffs for a total of 26 yards in UA’s 24-17 victory vs. Texas A&M. Adams recorded three catches for 27 yards in the Razorbacks’ 41-20 win at No. 18 South Carolina, then the next week contributed two punt returns for 40 yards, one 17-yard reception and one rush for three yards in a 58-21 Arkansas win vs. UTEP.

2009 Season

Adams played in 10 games and started in seven as he missed the Auburn, Florida and Ole Miss games due to a "mild stroke". He was a second-team All-SEC selection by the AP. He finished ninth in the SEC and 95th nationally in receiving yards per game (56.8). He was one of 11 players in the SEC to have multiple 100-yard receiving games last season with two. He was third on the Razorback roster in receiving yards with 568 and fourth in catches with 29. He was tied with Greg Childs for the team lead in touchdown receptions (7) and was second among all receivers in average yards per catch (19.6). He averaged 21.9 yards per catch in the first quarter of all games combined, which led the SEC. Six of his receiving touchdowns came in home games, which tied for 11th nationally. He had a touchdown in seven of 10 games he played in. Against Missouri State in the season-opener, he had a then-career long catch of 40 yards for a touchdown. Adams led Arkansas in receiving for the second-straight game against Texas A&M with his first 100-yard receiving game of his career. He had just three catches and accounted for 110 yards in the contest. He returned to action to lead the Razorbacks in receiving with the second 100-yard game of his career against Eastern Michigan which included a career-best two touchdowns and a career long 78-yard touchdown catch. Adams ran for his first rushing touchdown against South Carolina on an 18-yard run around the right side. He led Arkansas receivers in receiving yards against Troy with 74 over four catches with a touchdown. Against No. 17 LSU, he ended the regular season with two catches for 13 yards. He gave the Razorbacks a 30-27 lead with his 14-yard touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter. Adams was named the Paul Eells Award winner by the Little Rock Touchdown Club for his efforts during his sophomore season.

2008 Season

Adams appeared in all 12 games in 2008 and started in seven. He finished third on the team in receptions with 31 for 377 yards and a touchdown. He had at least one reception in each game of his college career and was one of two Razorbacks to have a catch in each game in 2008. In Arkansas' three fourth-quarter game-winning drives, he was thrown to four times and had four catches for 29 yards (1-WIU, 2-ULM, 1-LSU). Adams was named SEC Freshman of the Week on Sept. 8 for his performance against Louisiana-Monroe. He finished with a career-high seven catches for 89 yards and had one run for nine yards. His seven catches against ULM were the most by a Razorback since 2007. He had a career long catch of 33 yards in the La.-Monroe win. Adams threw his first career touchdown pass against Auburn, a six-yard pass to Casey Dick. He scored Arkansas' first touchdown of the 2008 season, a 10-yard pass from Casey Dick during the second quarter of the Western Illinois game. He made two catches for 29 yards against Texas including one for 18 yards and a first down. Adams grabbed five catches for 68 yards against Florida including a career high four first downs. He also had a career long run of 16 yards against Florida. In the Auburn victory, Adams made a key tackle on an interception to save a touchdown. Auburn ended up with only a field goal on the drive. He made two catches for 24 yards in the Kentucky game including one for a first down. He had one reception for 23 yards and a first down against Ole Miss and also carried the ball one time for a loss of seven yards. Adams accounted for three catches and a first down against Tulsa with a long reception of 21 yards in the first quarter which eventually led to a touchdown. He continued his streak of games with a reception against Mississippi State making one for four yards. He also had one rush for a career long 19 yards in the game. He made one catch for four yards against LSU.

High School

Adams racked up 80 tackles, including 29 assisted stops and 10 tackles for loss for Central Arkansas Christian as a senior. He was named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas team and the Associated Press Super Team after tallying 15 pass break ups and five interceptions for 187 yards while playing cornerback and safety. He returned one interception for a 77-yard touchdown. He also earned four sacks, while earning one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He earned 742 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns rushing. He caught 33 passes for 770 yards and racked up 435 yards in return yardage as a senior. He also threw for a pair of touchdowns. He had a total of 25 touchdowns on the season. In his junior season, he rushed 75 times for 857 yards and 14 touchdowns. He caught 29 passes for 633 yards and nine touchdowns. He averaged 21.8 yards per catch. As a sophomore, he tallied five interceptions. He was a member of the Rivals 250 and was ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the state by the same outlet. Hawgs Illustrated ranked him as the No. 2 prospect in Arkansas while Scout ranked him as the No. 8 cornerback in the nation. He was ranked as the No. 12 cornerback by Rivals and the No. 4 prospect in Arkansas by HawgSports.com. He was also recruited by Southern California, Clemson, Georgia, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Florida.

Draft Scout Player News

08/27/14 - WR Joe Adams was waived by the Texans Monday (Aug. 25).

08/05/14 - WR Joe Adams was signed by the Texans August 1.

09/05/13 - WR Joe Adams was waived from reserve/injured with an injury settlement by the Panthers Wednesday.

08/28/13 - WR Joe Adams was waived/injured by the Panthers Tuesday with a calf injury. He will be placed on reserve/injured after clearing waivers Wednesday.

08/28/13 - WR Joe Adams was placed on reserve/injured by the Panthers Wednesday.